If anybody runs or maintains a gen-set, NRE, MotivePower, or any of the Caerpillar/Cummins/MTU powered units by another builder, just curious as to your personal impression as to the utility, quality, maintainability or any other attribute you might have EXPERIENCE with.

Thanks.

Also if anybody has run the EMD "eco" rebuilds, would be interested on impressions on that line too.

If you can make some kind of contact with Fort Lewis, WA (now Joint Base Lewis/McChord) in Tacoma, they may be able to provide you with some information.

They have experimented with both the batter powered version, which did not work out well, and now the gen-set locomotives with small engines that come online as needed.

I was on site when the gensets were delivered and was quite impressed with the design and build quality. The project I was working on was completed before they really got much service, so I don't know how they fared in the long run. Initial impressions were good, but that's not real surprising. Then again, their initial impression of the battery version were not good, and that variety never did live up to expectations. It was under powered, lots of lag time when loading up, etc.

Maybe contact the Seattle Corps of Engineers and see if anyone can help you out? (They may well be more helpful than you might think, it's not like you're asking for specs on tanks or guns...) Considering the way they do things, they would probably have some pretty thorough records.

Some comments on the EMD ECO line-based upon first-hand exposure:

There have been several different approaches to ECO production with respect to core units. The upcoming CP order for GP22ECOs utilizes trucks and motors from retired GP-9 units-with the carbody being of new construction, along with the engine, engine support equipment, etc. The NS order is being built at JBS from retired GP-59 cores (12-710 engine)-using kits supplied by EMD. KCS has GP and SD series ECO units based upon GP-40 and SD-40 cores.

The NS and KCS retain their original main alternators, which would be AR-11 and AR-10 respectively. I would suspect that the CP units will receive reman AR-10's procured through the second-hand market.

All of these units are equipped with new electrical cabinets featuring the current-spec 'EM-2000' control system. The same control architecture is applied to current
EMD production, e.g., SD70M-2's and SD70ACE's.

It is easy to see that the delivered price might vary greatly according to the percentage of new vs. reconditioned material contained within the locomotives. Furthermore, items such as length of warranty, field support, training, tooling and spare parts inventory would be negotiated as part of the commercial transaction.

All and all, the ECO locomotive would dovetail well into a fleet equipped with 710 powered , EM2000 equipped locomotives. For those operations without 70 series in their fleets, there would need to be budgeting for training, tooling and spare parts inventory.

Operation and maintenance is once again consistent with current EMD production.

DPK

One of the complaints that has surfaced re:gensets is the quality/availability of technical publications such as maintenance manuals, parts books, etc.

Another concern discussed within the forum of certain trade associations has been the long term reliability of water cooled choppers found within some of these gen-set locos.

DPK

NH0401, Thanks for bringing up the water cooled issue. According to the manufacturer of these water cooled I.G.B.T.'s. 100% of warranty claims were liquid getting into the electronics. We use a air cooled I.G.B.T. set-up to allow light use of the locomotive on the A.P.U. unit.

One of the other problems voiced by train crews as well as my observations running locomotives equipped with multiple engines is lag time waiting for the other engines to come on line. The only way around that is to have all the engines running so the power comes on smoothly.

Another observation and commonly heard complaints is slow loading. This is a result of having to let the capacitors charge in the choppers. This is how they get so much energy out of a small alternator. As long as you are using "choppers" you will have a slow load.

There have also been coupling problems between engines and alternators. Personal observations of me and our crews are the "tightness" of everything inside. If you are used to working on regular locomotives you will find you have allot less room to work with on a gen-set.Tasks such as installing a remote can prove to be more challenging than in a normal locomotive due to so much "stuff" in a small area.

The companies building these all seem to turn out a product with good workmanship.